Oil-burning orchard-heater.



W. C. ADAMS.

OIL BURNING ORCHARD HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22. 1913.

1,,1%,9;86 Patented July 6, 1915.

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OIL-BURNING- ORG Specification of Letters 1a'tent.

01E UPLAND, CALIFORNIA.

RID-HEATER.

Patented July 5, lil@.

Application-filed November 22, 1913. Serial No. 802,889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CommoN Air-nus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Upland, in the county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Burning Orchard-Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in oil-burning orchard heaters, and has for its object the provision of a simple, strong and durable device of portable character, for maintaining a non-injurious temperature in orchards, nurseries, greenhouses and the like.

A common objection obtaining with the ordinary heaters or smudge-pots has been the smoke or soot which accumulates upon the fruit trees and buildings. Again, where oil is employed as a fuel, another objection encountered resides in the overflow or accidental overturning of the heater, whereby the soil becomes impregnated with oil, and becoming more or less impervious to water, is unfitted for the orchard,

My present improvements have sought to overcome these objections, and the embodiment thereof comprises a burner or heating chamber equipped with suitable drafts, preferably made from cast metal, with which an oil tank is connected by a pipe of suitable length. The tank and burner preferably are of approximately the same level or height, and the oil supply to the burner is regulated by means of a suitable valve. These and further details of my improvement will be more readily explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a view of the assembled device in perspective, with certain portions broken away. Fig. II is a plan view of the burner. Fig. III is a perspective view of a modified type of burner with the pipe partially broken away to show the supporting collar. Fig. IV is a broken away view of the slit castiron sleeve for the pipe, and Fig. V is a plan view of the side cover for the burner.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, I have employed the same character of reference to indicate similar parts.

The covered oil tank a may be constructed of sheet metal of any desired form, but preferably said tank is approximately the height and connected to stand upon the same level as the cast-iron burner 1); details of which the burner.

will be further set forth. A pipe 0 of suitable length containing an intermediate cutofivalve c is interposed between the tank and This burner or heating chamber, in the type herein shown, consists essentially of a rectangular boxlike cast-iron construction, open at the top and having a draft opening at one side. The upper-draft opening (Z is positioned beneath the flange b" of the burner and extends substantially the entire width thereof. A lower and larger draft opening 6 is positioned slightly above the bottom of the burner and is in'closed by a down-draft casing e, which, however, may be partially or entirely covered, as required, by means of the lid 6' A collar 7, provided with a plurality of bolt-holes f, is pivoted by means of the bolt 7 to an extension I)" of the flange 6. Outside this collar there may be seated either the sleeve 9 adapted to receive a pipe 7:. of any suitable length, on its upper end, or said pipe may be mounted directly in the collar, if desired. The pipe is of such length as to extend to the top of the tree, and a cap or heat distributor h is positioned at thetop of said pipe.

The sleeve g ordinarily is used in connection with my heater and is also made of castiron, wherein numerous longitudinal slits g are disposed for permitting the entrance of restricted quantities of air to assist'in supporting combustion.

To start the heater, a small quantity of oil is allowed to flow into the burner by opening valve 0 and after it has been ignited, the succeeding flow of oil will shortly be partially converted into gas, thereby causing more or less complete combustion, until all the drafts have been properly regulated, to suit the character and quantity of oil. It will be observed that the bottom draft opening is positioned a short distance above the floor of the burner, whereby the air is admitted slightly above the level of the burning oil. Moreover, the oil is not likely to flood back into the down-draft casing unless a large excess is admitted to the burner.

Ordinarily crude oil is the preferred fuel and it will be understood that the construction shown avoids any possible spilling, overflow or waste of oil, and, even though the burner should accidentally be flooded above the lower-draft opening, it would only result in filling the surrounding casing e. However, my improved burner is so protected from wind or explosive action of the fuel, that the flame is not at all likely to be blown out or to blow itself out, and the heating action will continue as long as any appreciable amount of oil remains in the tank. It will be seen that the collar and pipe may be turned back from the burner, which affords a further modification of the draft, if desired, although ordinarily the roducts of combustion preferably are carrie above the level of the trees and fruit. When thus turned back, the collar clears the opening, so that any accumulated carbon, and refuse within the burner, may be dipped out from the bottom, without interrupting the heating action. When the collar and pipe are turned about their pivot upon the burner casing, to vary the draft along the outer side thereof, a steady, even combustion is produced and a suction may be obtained, which with a lighter oil employed for fuel, will serve to suck all soot and residue up the pipe, and avoid the necessity for cleaning the burner.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following 1. In an oil burning heating device, the combination with an oil tank, of a heating chamber or burner, a connecting supply pipe therebetween; said burner having a bottomdraft opening positioned above the floor of the burner, a lateral down-draft casing connecting with said opening, and a removable collar and pipe positioned above the burner, substantially as set forth.

2. In an oil-burning heating device, the combination with an oil tank, of a heating chamber or burner, a connecting supply pipe therebetween; said tank and burner being approximately level and of equal height, and

a lateral down-draft casing approximately.

the height of the burner structure opening into a bottom-draft, substantially as set forth.

chamber or burner, aconnecting supply pipe therebetween, said burner'and tank being connected substantially at the same level and the burner being provided with a draft opening elevated above its floor, a collar adapted to swing free from the top of the burner, a slit sleeve thereon and a draft-pipe, substantially as set forth.

4. In an oil-burning heater, the combina tion with means for supplying a variable quantity of oil, of an open top burner structure to which the oil is adapted to be supplied adjacent to its floor, said burner structure having a bottom draft opening adjacent to the floor and an external down-draft casing connecting with said opening and extending approximately to the top of the burner structure, substantially as set forth.

5. In an oil-burning orchard heater, the combination with means for supplying a variable quantity of oil, of an open-top burner structure having a bottom draft opening, a closure member pivoted from the top of the burner structure, and a draft pipe mounted thereon adapted to swing free from the open top of said burner structure, substantially as set forth.

6. In an oil-burning orchard heater, the combination with means for supplying a variable quantity of oil, of an open-top burner structure having a bottom draft opening, a laterally swinging draft-pipe,

and a closure member ad]ustably pivoted from the top of the burner structure, whereby the position of the draft pipe may be varied, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I do now affix my signature in the resence of two Witnesses. WILLI CORYDON ADAMS. Witnesses:

ISABELLA WALTER, F. L. WINN. 

